Vise



O 1963 R. KUCHENBECKER, SR 3, 7,

VISE

Filed Jan. 25, 1962 INVENTOR. RAYMOND KUGHENBECKEA United States Patent This invention relates to improvement in vises.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form of vise adapted for use with either'comparatively small objects and/or bulky objects wherein a long base or support is required; to provide a vise of this kind structured from a minimum of comparatively inexpensively-formed parts compactly assembled; and to provide an improved vise of this kind which is simple in construction and operation.

One specific embodiment of this invention is shown and described in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an improved vice constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view of the same taken on the plane of the line 2-2v of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a transverse, sectional view taken on the plane of the line 33 of FIG. 2.

The essential concept of this invention involves a channel-shaped support having the parallel sides terminating in inwardly-extending flanges, a pair of blocks dimensioned for slidable positioning in the support and laterally recessed to embrace the flanges, and la fixed pedestal journall-ing a threaded bolt operable to press one of the pair of blocks against an object interposed between the pair of blocks and effect a wedging of the other block against shifting in the support in the direction of the thrust of the bolt.

A vise embodying the foregoing concept comprises a support 5, a pair of shiftable blocks 6 and 7, and a pedestal 8 journalling a threaded bolt 9 the turning of which by a handle 10 permits the secure clamping of an object between the pair of blocks 6 and 7 to permit work on the object.

The support as here shown is channehshaped, the parallel sides 11 of which terminate in inwardly-extending flanges 12 with downwardly-disposed V-shaped ridges 13, spaced inwardly from and parallel with the respective support sides 11. The rear end of the base of the support 5 is upset to form a stop 4 for preventing the unintentional removal of the blocks 6 and 7.

The blocks '6 and 7, as here shown, are comparatively thick rectangular-shaped pieces of metal having lateral recesses 14 and 15 formed therein nearly medially of the height of the respective blocks 6 and 7. In depth, transversely of the respective blocks 6 and 7, and in height, longitudinally thereof, the recesses 14 and 15 are just enough greater than the corresponding width and height of the flanges 12 and ridges 13 to permit easy positioning of the blocks 6 and 7 in the support 5. Below the recesses 14 and 15, the blocks 6 and 7 are dimensioned to easily slide along the support 5 with the ridged flanges 12 tracking in the block recesses 14 and 15.

The block 6 has the base 16 and the recess-defining portions 17 thereof disposed normal to the plane of the block 6. Thus, at no time will there be any binding of the block 6 by any shifting thereof along the support 5.

The block 7 has the base 18 and the recess-defining portions 19 thereof disposed at a slight angle to the plane of the block 7. This permits a wedging of the block in the support 5 as will be set forth in the presently-explained use of the vise.

-Ihe pedestal 8 is similar in form to the blocks 6 and 7. However, the recesses 21 and the portion below the recesses are dimensioned to snugly fit in the end of the support,

2 as shown in FIG. 1. The portion above the recesses 21 preferably is tapered upwardly toward a rounded crown 22. As here shown, the pedestal is set in flush with the end of the support 5 and removably secured in place by screws 23.

The bolt 9'is a suitable length of rod conventionally threaded into the pedestal more or less concentric with the crown 22. The inner end 24 of the bolt 9 is rounded to seat in a socket 25 in the opposed tacesof the adjacent block 6. An integral hub 26 on the outer end of the bolt 9 is bored to shiftabl-y support the handle 10 by which the bolt is turned. The ends of the handle 10 mount lknUbS 27 which prevent the accidental removal of the handle 10 from the bolt 9.

A significant characteristic of the herein shown vise is that the support 5 may be salvaged firom what would be considered as scrap material, and/or the support 5 may be of long lengths when for instance, use is intended as a clamping means for bulky or wide objects, in gluing operations or the like.

The support 5 is a section of channel material normally structured for use as a part of flexible structural framing systems and marketed under the trademark Unistrut. Such a form of channel material is shown in Patent No. 2,345,650. In the building of these framing systems 51111311 pieces of this channel m-aten'ial are left over. Heretotore, they have been cast off as scrap and now in many instances this scrap can be recovered and used to construct the device of the present invention. Thus the cost to the consumer of the device of this invention will be lower than if the channel had to be especially manufactured.

The blocks *6 and 7 and the pedestal 8 are short pieces of metal bars that are left over from certain types of operation, normally having value only as scrap. Likewise the bolt 9 and the handle 10 may be formed irorn cast oif pieces of various rod materials.

A section of this Unistrut channel material. requires only, if desired, the upsetting of the free end of the base to form the stop 4, to prevent accidental displacement of the blocks '6 and 7; and the drilling of the apertures in one end of the side walls to seat the shanks of the screws 23 for positioning the block 8 in position.

The blocks 6 and 7 require machining only to form the recesses 14 and 15 and cutting away portions thereof below the recesses to make the blocks ready for use on the support 5-. The pedestal '8 requires machining only for cutting the recesses 21, tapering the upper end of the pedestal and threading the holes for the bolt 9 and screws 23, to make the pedestal ready for assembly on the support 5.

One type of the vise thus structured in accordance with this invention obviously can be made into a comparatively small unit. It could thus be adapted for clamping therein small objects on which Work is to be performed. Being small, the vise very often can be held in the hand for certain types of operation on a clamped object. However, if desired, the vise may be secured to a table, bench, or block of wood by inserting screws through the apertures 28 in the base 29 of the support 5. Another type of vise may be structured in accordance with this invention wherein all the elements may be identical as described herein with the exception of the support 5, and in this case the support 5 may be of a length to clamp long or wide and/or bulky items, such as in a gluing Operation or the like.

This improved form of vise is used in the following manner:

outline in FIG. 2., the bolt 9 is turned to seat the end 24 in the socket 25 in the adjacent block 6. The further turning of the bolt 9 pressures the adjacent (block 6 to move the interposed object against the remote block 7. The resulting pressure on the block 7 tilts it re-arwardiy on the base edge 30 (FIG. 2) from the position shown in t ull outline to the position shown in dotted outline in FIG. 1. Such movement of the block 7 elevates the forward edges 31 defining the recesses diagonally from the base edge 30-into contact with the V-shaped flange ridges 13. Contact of the edges 31 with these ridges 13 forces the base edge 30 to bite into the support base 29 and thus temporarily wedge the block 7 against any further rearward movement. A final turn of the bolt 9 secures the interposed object firmly in place for work thereon. It is now apparent that since the work exerts pressure against the upper end forward edge portion 32 the edges 30 and 33 tend to bite into the base 29 and upper surface of the flange 12 about the tulcrum 31 to prevent rearward shifting of the block 7 It will be understood that details of the construction shown may he altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

It is claimed:

1. A vise of the class described comprising,

a channel-shaped support the free edges of the parallel sides of which terminate in inwandiyand downwardly-extending flanges,

a pair of object-clamping blocks laterally recessed intermediate their ends and dimensioned below the recesses to slidingly fit in the support with the flanges tracking in the recesses,

a pedestal fixed on the support, and

an adjusting tbolt threaded in the pedestal for turning to :press the adjacent block toward the remote block to clamp an object between the pair of blocks. 2. A vise such as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lateral recesses and the base of the adjacent block are normal to the plane thereof and the recesses and the base of the remote block are angled to the plane thereof, whereby the pressure of the bolt against the adjacent block with an interposed object wedges the remote block be tween the flanges and the base against movement by the thrust of the bolt.

3. A vise of the class described comprising, a channel shaped support having parallel sides, the free ends of which terminate in inwardly and downwardly-extending flanges with downwardly-disposed V-shaped ridges, a

pair of object-clamping blocks laterally recessed intermediate their ends and dimensioned below the recesses to slidingly fit in the support with the flanges tracking in the recesses, the one block having the base and the portions thereof defining the recesses disposed normal to the plane of the one block, the other :blook having the base and the portions thereof defining the recesses inclined at an angle to the plane of the other block, a pedestal fixed at one end of the support, and an adjusting bolt threaded in the pedestal for turning to press the one block toward the other block to clamp an object between the blocks and thereby so alter the angularity of the other block to the support as to wedge the rear edge of the other block. base against the base of the support and Wedge the diagonally-opposite recess-defining edges or the other block against the V'shaped ridges of the support flanges to secure the other block against further movement relative to the support by the thrust of the bolt.

4. A vise such as set forth in claim 3 wherein the end of the support base opposite the mounting of the pedestal is turned upwardly to prevent the dislodgment of the blocks from the support.

Boggs May 15 1956 English Sept. 18, 1956 

1. A VISE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBE COMPRISING, A CHANNEL-SHAPED SUPPORT THE FREE EDGES OF THE PARALLEL SIDES OF WHICH TERMINATE IN INWARDLY- AND DOWNWARDLY-EXTENDING FLANGES, A PAIR OF OBJECT-CLAMPING BLOCKS LATERALLY RECESSED INTERMEDIATE THEIR ENDS AND DIMENSIONED BELOW THE RECESSES TO SLIDINGLY FIT IN THE SUPPORT WITH THE FLANGES TRACKING IN THE RECESSES, A PEDESTAL FIXED ON THE SUPPORT, AND AN ADJUSTING BOLT THREADED IN THE PEDESTAL FOR TURNING TO PRESS THE ADJACENT BLOCK TOWARD THE REMOTE BLOCK TO CLAMP AN OBJECT BETWEEN THE PAIR OF BLOCKS. 